A novel lutetium(III) PVC membrane sensor based on a new symmetric S–N Schiff's base for Lu(III) analysis in real sample

A novel Lu(III) PVC membrane sensor has been constructed based on a new synthesized symmetric S–N Schiff's base, namely N-[(Z)-1-(2-thienyl)methylidene]-N-[4-(4-{[(Z)-1-(2-thienyl) methylidene]amino}benzyl)phenyl] amine (TBPA). The electrode showed a Nernstian slope of 19.8 ± 0.5 mV per decade across a wide concentration range of 1.0 × 10− 6 to 1.0 × 10− 2 mol L− 1 with a detection limit of 7.2 × 10− 7 mol L− 1. The proposed sensor showed high selectivity toward Lu(III) ion in comparison with common alkaline, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metals specially lanthanide ions, and could be used over a pH range of 2.7–10.6. It can be used for at least 2 months without any considerable divergency in potentials and it has a relatively fast response time of < 10 s. The sensor was effectively used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Lu(III) ions with EDTA. The constructed sensor accuracy was investigated by the monitoring of Lu(III) ion in mixtures of two and three different ions.